Portsmouth 0 Wrexham 0: Neil Allen's verdict - Mercurial Josh Murphy's wonder show, but still goalless
Pompey were held to a goalless draw by big-spending Wrexham at Fratton Park
If there was any justice, the wonderful Josh Murphy would have capped a dazzling display with a Pompey match winner.
As it was, the outstanding winger served up a magical performance to deliver hope to the Fratton faithful that the man to reignite their season is back.
Marking his first start since Southampton in September, the 30-year-old was simply sensational down the left flank, destroying Issa Kaborre time and time again with embarrassing ease.
Considering that length of absence, it was a remarkable showing from Murphy, who was easily the best player on the park, regardless of the millions Wrexham have spent.
It’s just a shame then that even the former Norwich man in brilliant form still couldn’t inspire the Blues to victory in a game in which they were by far the better side.
It was a Pompey side completely unrecognisable from the Birmingham debacle, in terms of personnel, system and performance. Thankfully.
John Mousinho had ripped up the team, making seven changes, and enforcing a 3-4-3 formation, yet there was also the fight, aggression and determination which had been so glaringly absent from St Andrew’s.
Sadly the goals remained missing, with the Blues now drawing a blank for three straight games, nonetheless it was encouraging, with plenty to like, particularly in the second half.
Mousinho’s men had plenty of opportunities in the second half, with Wrexham delighted to slow the game down to ensure a point in the face of some fierce approach play.
Yet the killer touch continues to elude, despite Conor Chaplin’s best game upon his return and Colby Bishop with a much improved all-round showing.
Watched by Pompey chairman Michael Eisner, who had flown in for the first time since April, with son Eric also present in the directors’ box, it was a performance the fans needed to restore faith in the team.
Frustratingly, it was a mere point, rather than a deserved victory, but there is plenty to be optimistic about following a goalless draw against the Red Dragons.
Mousinho had promised there would be consequences for that 4-0 hammering - and just three outfield players have kept their place against Wrexham.
Josef Bursik, Ibane Bowat, Regan Poole and Andre Dozzell were the sole survivors from that St Andrew’s thumping, with Mousinho overseeing a large-scale overhaul of his starting XI.
That meant Josh Knight, Connor Ogilvie, Terry Devlin, Luke Le Roux, Conor Chaplin, Josh Murphy and Colby Bishop were all handed recalls.
Dropping to the bench were Marlon Pack, Jordan Williams, Minhyeok Yang, Mackenzie Kirk, John Swift, Hayden Matthews and Mark Kosznovszky, while Bishop skippered the side.
The 3-4-3 formation saw Poole, Knight and Bowat form the back three, with Devlin and Ogilvie as wing-backs.
Needing a more solid start than demonstrated at Birmingham on Saturday, it took just three minutes for Pompey to register their first attempt on goal.
Bishop helped the ball onto Murphy and the winger surged down the outside of his man before firing in an angled left-footed shot which keeper Arthur Okonwo comfortably caught at his near post.
The Blues’ extra aggression earned Dozzell the game’s first booking after 12 minutes, when the midfielder went right through Ben Sheaf, missing the ball completely.
Wrexham produced their first meaningful goal attempt on 20 minutes, when Lewis O’Brien’s right-footed shot was pushed out by Bursik for a corner.
Moments later. O’Brien’s left-wing cross was met with a towering far-post header from Kieffer Moore, yet Bursik flung himself to his left for a brilliant finger-tipped save from practically on the line.
The Blues were forced into a change on 27 minutes with Williams coming on for Ogilvie, whose attempts to play on following an earlier knock were ultimately unsuccessful.
That meant Williams, who started against Birmingham at right-back, was now deputising as left wing-back for the hosts following that set-back.
Minutes later, Devlin’s quick throw-in from the right released Murphy and he charged into the left channel before firing an angled left-footed shot narrowly past the far post.
The game was proving to be a tight affair and when Sheaf was allowed to charge forward without anyone closing him down, he fired a right-footed shot just past the post.
Murphy then put in a magnificent low cross from the left which fizzed dangerously across the area with nobody able to get the slightest touch which was required.
With half-time approaching, Pompey had their best chance of the game so far after Murphy charged down Issa Kabore’s attempted clearance.
The ball fell invitingly to Bishop, who took far too long over his shot inside the box and, ultimately, was forced wider, with his eventual attempt blocked.
There were no substitutions at the break and, within minutes of the restart, a fine move between Murphy, Williams and Dozzell saw the latter drag a left-footed shot across goal with Chaplin calling for a pull back.
Then Okonkwo pulled off a superb point-blank stop from Murphy after the winger’s original shot was blocked.
Pompey were in the ascendancy and, on 53 minutes, another Murphy shot was finger-tipped around the post by Wrexham’s keeper at full stretch to his right.
From the resulting corner, delivered from the left by Murphy, Bowat’s far-post header was blocked on the line by the keeper.
Wrexham were under severe pressure yet, on 61 minutes, they countered through a quick free-kick, with Bursik coming off his line to brilliantly block O’Brien as he ran through for a one-on-one.
Yet Pompey continued to threaten and, on 72 minutes, Chaplin’s goal-bound shot from inside the box was deflected for a corner by Dan Scarr.
The Blues made their second substitution on 77 minutes, with Zak Swanson replacing Terry Devlin at right wing-back.
But that winner wouldn’t arrive, despite Murphy’s best promptings, and it will be Pompey more disappointed than Wrexham with a goalless draw.